Thermarest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad Gear Review

I’ve found that sleeping pad models often turn out to be rather bulky, and I was in the mood to invest in a more compact version that won’t take up a lot of space.

Lucky for me, the NeoAir XLite is part of the Thermarest fast and light series, and has been designed from the ground up to weigh less and pack small.

The Thermarest NeoAir XLite regular edition weighs in at a total of 340 grams and is no bigger than my water bottle, which is perfect for fitting into my day pack not taking up much space at all.

I had my eye on this particular model for some time, and I’m happy with my purchase.

This is a 3 season sleeping pad and is not ideal for winter, but will stand the test of time for all the other seasons.

The Thermarest NeoAir Lite comes in many models such as the woman’s regular, small, regular and large model.

I’ve gone for the regular model, which is 51 x 183 cm and 6.3 cm in thickness and weighs 340 grams.

I’m 5’9 in height and the regular was the best option for me – the large would have taken up more space and the small is more designed for climbing using hammocks.

After laying down on the regular, it’s a perfect match for me in size.

What’s in the box?

You will get a pack sack that fits the packed down Thermarest NeoAir XLite perfectly, a repair kit if you ever need it, as well as a leaflet.

Warmth without the weight

Thermarest NeoAir XLite uses a technology called ThermaCapture which is a reflective layering system that consists of hundreds of internal cells, which create a warmth system that allows the sleeping pad to take up no space at all and still offer incredible warmth across all 3 seasons making it one of the lightest air mattress on the market.

Comfortable design even with its light aspect

By using a triangular core matrix construction along with the material of the NeoAir XLite the design is created to offer comfort, avoids slipping, and offers stability so you can fall asleep without drifting away.

Ultralight and ultra-packable

The ultimate in ultralight and packable three-season comfort for sleeping pads. Durability is achieved even with the lightweight fabric.

By using low bulk material, the NeoAir XLite is a compact option within its warmth-class.

Pumping up the NeoAir XLite

Surprisingly, you have a number of options for pumping up your sleeping pad with Thermarest.

For the fancy option you can purchase a NeoAir Mini Pump which fits into your pocket and is so compact in size, it will blow up your pad in no time.

You could also use a NeoAir Pump Sack that is more of a manual method. The plus size is you can use the sack while you’re not using as a general sack for your stuff.

The third method is using your good old set of lungs. This might not be ideal after a long day of trail running, but won’t take you longer than 5 minutes to blow up the pad.

Overall experience of the Thermarest NeoAir XLite

I wanted to invest in an air mattress that would last a long time and get a lot of use, so I was prepared to splash out a bit on getting the best one on the market.

The Thermarest NeoAir XLite ticked all those boxes for me. Its comfort level and warmth level for its weight and size is superb, and just what I was looking for in a sleeping pad. I’m really happy with my purchase.

It’s a thumbs up review from Travel Dave.

Any negatives about the NeoAir XLite?

One downside has to be the crunch noise that the NeoAir XLite makes. This is due to the ThermaCapture material inside that creates a crunch noise when you lay on it and pack it down.

Some users and light sleepers have found this to be an issue and I can see how this could be a problem if you’re a light sleeper. For me personally, when I sleep I pretty much just pass out so it’s not a major issue.

But some of these complaints come from those sharing a tent with a NeoAir XLite user, so that’s something to think about with this purchase.

Where to get your Thermarest NeoAir XLite?

I looked around the online market to find the best deal for my Thermarest NeoAir XLite.

I found Addnature had the best deal on offer and also offered free delivery on my purchase, as well as a very generous 100 day return policy and same day dispatch on the delivery as well.

Customer service, delivery time and value were great so I would highly recommend checking them out.

I hope you found this gear review of the Thermarest NeoAir XLite useful. If you have any further questions feel free to send me an email, I would be happy to help. Happy future travelling and enjoy the outdoors!

— Dave Brett

Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow the UK's leading solo adventure travel blogger, Dave Brett on his travels around the world. An Adventure travel blog that features travel tips and advice, inspirational stories, travel videos and travel photography that will help you inspire and plan your next trip abroad.

Welcome to Travel Dave – UK Solo Adventure Blog

Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow the UK's leading solo adventure travel blogger Dave Brett on his travels around the world. A globe-trotting adventure travel blog featuring travel tips and advice, exotic stories, travel videos and travel photography that will inspire your next trip abroad, and help you plan it too. To read more, please visit: About Travel Dave Page.